Building a Safepath: from Confusion to Clarity: Caregiver Handbook

By SafePath Children's Advocacy Center

Building a Safe Path : From Confusion to Clarity Caregiver Handbook is a guide for parents and caregivers wanting to make a difference in the lives of children who have been sexually abused. Building a SafePath provides education around the issues that emerge when a child has been sexually abused–guiding parents about such topics as the effects of sexual abuse, stress and coping, the grief process, criminal and legal issues, and safety.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796061222

SafePath Children's Advocacy Center

SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children who have been abused. SafePath’s mission is to reduce the trauma to children and their families by offering a comprehensive, professional, and child-friendly approach to the allegations of child abuse. SafePath ensures a less traumatic, child-focused approach to child abuse cases by bringing together professionals from law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, therapists, healthcare professions, DFACS, and other agencies, to all work together as a collaborative team.

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Copyright © 2019 by SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center. 803287

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission

in writing from the copyright owner.

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

ISBN:   Softcover   978-1-7960-6123-9

   Hardcover   978-1-7960-6124-6

   EBook      978-1-7960-6122-2

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019914778

Rev. date: 10/30/2019

Contents

1. Child Sexual Abuse

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

The Scope of the Problem

Myths and Facts about Child Sexual Abuse

2. Effects of Sexual Abuse on Children

Indicators That a Child May Have Been Sexually Abused

Common Feelings Shared by Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused

Possible Long-Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

What Mitigates the Traumatic Effects of Sexual Abuse

3. Responding to Your Child

What to Do If Your Child Has Been Sexually Abused

What to Say and What Not to Say

Talking with Your Child

Helping Your Child Deal with Their Feelings

4. Stress and Coping

What Is Stress?

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

Tools for Self-Care

Reducing Stress

Relaxation Techniques

5. The Grief Process

What is Grief?

Tasks of Grief

Stages of Grief

6. Sexual Offenders

Who Are the Offenders?

Facts about Offenders

Types of Offenders

Characteristics of Sexual Offenders

The Grooming Process

Behaviors to Be Concerned About

7. Negotiating the Criminal and Legal Process

Crime Victims Bill of Rights

Steps in the Criminal Justice Process

Prosecution Process

Preparing Children for Court

8. Effective Parenting Skills When Your Child Has Been Sexually Abused

Three Parenting Styles

Punishment versus Discipline

Unintended Effects of Physical Punishment

Common Methods to Get Children to Cooperate

Engaging Cooperation

Effective Discipline

9. Healthy Sexuality

Why It Is Important to Talk with Your Child about Sex

How to Talk with Your Child about Sex

The Four-Point Plan

When Is Sexual Behavior in Children a Problem

How to Handle Sexual Behavior Problems

10. Safety and Protection for Your Child

Raising a Non-Victim Child

Awareness

Minimizing Opportunity for Offenders

Choosing Childcare

Internet Safety

Teaching Your Child Safety Skills

Welcome to

Building a SafePath: From Confusion to Clarity

A facilitated program for adults wanting

to make a difference in the lives of children

who have been sexually abused

Building a SafePath: From Confusion to Clarity has been an evolution over many years of working with child victims of sexual abuse and their parents and loved ones. At SafePath, we believe that a parent’s support is vital to a child’s recovery from the trauma of sexual abuse. More than anything, children need the love and support of those who have the greatest influence and impact in their lives. It is with this in mind that Building a SafePath was written.

In the weeks to come, you will learn about

Week1: Child Sexual Abuse

Week2: Effects of Sexual Abuse on Children

Week3: Responding to Your Child

Week4: Stress and Coping

Week5: The Grief Process

Week6: Sexual Offenders

Week7: Negotiating the Criminal and Legal Process

Week8: Effective Parenting Skills When Your Child Has Experienced Sexual Abuse

Week9: Healthy Sexuality

Week10: Safety and Protection Skills for Your Child

1. Child Sexual Abuse

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a child for the sexual gratification of another person. While there is no universal definition of child sexual abuse, each state defines child sexual abuse differently under the law. Sexual abuse consists of a variety of behaviors from non-touching to touching offenses. Some children are coerced, forced, threatened, or bribed, but children may also willingly participate because of any number of reasons. Each US state legally defines the age at which a minor may consent to sexual contact. The limits of the age of consent in the United States range from sixteen to eighteen years of age (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Sexual contact with a child under the age of consent is a crime, regardless of whether the child consents. Child sexual abuse includes sexual activity ranging from non-touching offenses, such as indecent exposure, to touching offenses, such as fondling and intercourse.

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The Scope of the Problem

How prevalent is child sexual abuse? Despite the fact that many victims never disclose or report their abuse, the numbers are staggering. Professionals conservatively use child sexual abuse prevalence estimates of 20 percent in women and 5-10 percent in men.

● One in four girls will be the victim of sexual abuse by the age of eighteen (Finkelhor et al., 2013; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005; Botash, 1997).

● One in six boys will be the victim of sexual abuse by the age of eighteen (Dube et al., 2005; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005; Botash, 1997).

● About 67 percent of all reported sexual assaults are against juvenile victims (Snyder, 2000).

● An estimated thirty-nine million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today (Abel et al., 1987).

● About 85-90 percent of victims know the abuser (Abel & Harlow, 2001). This means that the majority of sexual offenders are not strangers to the child. Therefore, teaching only about stranger danger is not enough to protect children from abuse.

● Family members commit 39 percent of the reported sexual assaults on children (Snyder, 2000).

● One in seven children are solicited sexually while on the Internet (Wolak, Mitchell, Finkelhor, 2006).

● Close to 90 percent of sexual abuse cases are never reported to the authorities. (Russell, 1984; Elliot, 1993; Hanson, Resnick, Saunders, Kilpatrick, & Best, 1999; Freyd et al.,